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Tradition • Character • Service

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

I seem to be a great big freaking Jinx lately so I figure now is the perfect time to post this.

It is Halloween....and Grand Valley needs 13 wins to break Hillsdale's D2 record 34 game winning streak. They currently stand at 22 straight wins (overall, not conference, not regular season, overall).

If they win the next two (23, 24), they will be enjoying a first round bye. It will take 4 more to win the national championship (25-28).

If they continue winning to start next season the record could be tied in Erie against Mercyhurst and then broken at home in Allendale against Indianapolis (coached by a former Hillsdale player and coach) on Saturday October 12. It would come 50 years after the record was set.

I wonder if the Lakers continue to win, how long it will be before members of the 1954-57 Hillsdale Dales start showing up on the sidelines of Grand Valley games the way members of the '72 Dolphins do whenever a team gets close to going undefeated.

Yes, Gorilla Nation we all know who snapped Hillsdale's record in the 1957 Holiday Bowl.

It is a long way to go, and I will be sure to listen to every Grand Valley game with my black cat "Lucky". My wife and daughter bought Lucky when I was on a quick trip to Vegas. I quit playing when I got the news. And it's a mighty Good Thing!!!

Lucky slept all spring on my patio/craps table. Subsequently, my year plus long streak of winning with the bones came to a screeching halt in June. Maybe i need to sneak Lucky into Laker Coach Chuck Martin's garage for the night....Ahhh, I would hate to disturb the sleep of Grand Rapids Press writer Howie Beardsley.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

My mama said that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. So, this one is gonna be short.

Hillsdale controlled the ball most of the first half in Tiffin territory but couldn’t find the endzone. Tiffin possessed the ball twice in Hillsdale territory during the first half. The scored on a short pass and then added a field goal with 5 seconds left in the half after Charger Matt Van Over fumbled the snap on what should have been a final punt to end the half.

The Chargers came out and blew down the field to open the second half. Phil Martin plowed in from the 4 to put Hillsdale within 3. Tiffin had an answer for every score including a Mark Nicolet to Aaron Waldie touchdown pass in the 4th quarter. This was definitely not the way the Chargers drilled Mercyhurst last weekend.

Bottom line: This mother was brutal!

Brutal weather. Mark Petro put his foot into two first half field goals that would have been good on any day other than this one.

5 penalties at crucial times killed any hope of winning. Two pass interference penalties extended Tiffin possessions. Holding hamstrung the offense and an inexcusable unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Dragons life after Hillsdale had stopped Tiffin on the most critical 3rd down play of the game.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Parents weekend is traditionally the time when students show off their collegiate achievements to their parents. For one Hillsdale College football player, however, the weekend brought a fan from across the world. Senior tailback Brett Neller was able to play at home on Saturday in front of his father, Maj. Gen. Robert Neller, who is stationed in Iraq for a year. The general was on a two-week vacation and made sure to attend his son’s two games during the stretch.

General Neller arrived late on Oct. 13 and attended his first Charger game at Wayne State University the next day � a game in which starting senior Phil Martin was injured in the first quarter, giving Brett the opportunity to play out the rest of the game in front of a quiet but proud father. During the game, the general spoke little of himself and instead went on to list his son’s recent achievements � how Brett walked on to the team and battled with injuries for two years. The general called his son a “resilient player” driven by “pure love of the game.”

Brett’s past two games are not the only ones the general has followed � he keeps up with his son’s season while overseas. Even though the general is unable to listen to the games live online, he regularly checks the score, and, thanks to head football Coach Keith Otterbein, watches game CDs.

“I appreciate the fact that [Otterbein] thinks enough of me to send me the CD,” General Neller said.

Otterbein, having missed some of his own sons’ high school games, said he does it because he can “sympathize” with the general’s situation.

In addition, Otterbein said he wants to do all he can for those serving America overseas. “[It’s] my way of saying thank you,” Otterbein said. “I just respect what General Neller is doing . . . to protect our freedom.”

After Saturday’s home game, Coach Otterbein gave the general the game ball, which Brett said that his father plans to take back to Iraq and put in the Operations Center. This gesture means a great deal for the other officers stationed in Camp Fallujah, since they too have been following the Chargers this season. Brett says he has received voicemails from officers commenting on his games. The general talked about how the men’s love of football keeps them together by reminding them of home and their children.

But there is not much room for weakness in a military family.

“There is a lot of emotion and sentimentality in a military family,” Brett said. “But you learn to be very strong and not wear all of your emotions on your sleeve.”

Although he can’t call his son before every game, the general sends Brett a weekly e-mail advising him to “Run hard, stay low, deliver the blow.” Brett says his father has told him that since high school. And although Brett can’t see his father after every game, he said that his teammates’ families are very welcoming of him.

“All the families are really supportive,” Brett said. “I feel like I’ve been adopted by all the Charger families. They’ve been awesome.”

Though it can be hard not to have his father around for his final season of football, Brett said he understands his father’s sacrifice.

“I wish he could be here at every game,” Brett said. “But I understand why he’s doing what he’s doing.”

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Michigan Tech's Lee Marana is now the GLIAC's all-time leading rusher.His 213 yards on Saturday vs. Northern Michigan pushed him ahead of former Charger Scott Schulte who had been the league's all-time leading rusher since 1993. In conference play, Marana has 4,381 yards, besting Schulte, who had 4,245 yards for Hillsdale from 1990-93.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Don't say I never gave you anything! I was scanning some old football pictures from the 1994 Winona when I ran across this priceless gem. You can find even more pics of your fearless dean in this volume as well as the 92, 93, and 95 editions. I think the library probably has them on file. See how long before they get mysteriously pulled in some Central Hall directive!

Hillsdale College was told to impose its will on Mercyhurst College. And on Saturday, the Chargers did just that.Advertisement

On Friday Army General Robert Neller, father of senior running back Brett Neller, spoke to the team and told them of the importance of imposing one’s will on another in battle. The Chargers listened and proceeded to dominate Mercyhurst College to the tune of a 40–21 win.

“(Gen. Neller said) In any conflict the victor is the one that is able to impose their will on the other guy,” said Hillsdale coach Keith Otterbein. “If nobody surrenders then you get those close games, and we’ve had a lot of those where no one surrendered. I think today we were able to capture their will and impose our will on them.”

“He came and talked to us yesterday and really got us pumped up and got us ready to go,” said running back Phil Martin. I think that was a big part of it. “It was brilliant I can’t even describe it. He was a great speaker.”

The Chargers began to impose their will on the Lakers by forcing Mercyhurst turn–overs on its first two possessions and then taking advantage. Hills–dale scored first–quarter touchdowns on a 3–yard run by Greg Dixon and a 2–yard pass from Mark Nicolet to Andrew Hesselink.

“We played well and got off to a good start and when you get ahead and don’t have to come from behind there is a different feeling,” Otterbein said. “There wasn’t any difference in the preparation in the week it’s just the momentum of the game we were able to make plays early and gain that momentum.”

Martin would add another score with 3:54 to play in the first half to lift the Chargers to a 21–6 lead at halftime. Martin showed no ill effects form leaving last week’s game in the early going due to a knee injury as he ran for 135 yards on 17 carries Saturday. He went on a 57–yard jaunt early in the third quarter which set up a 1–yard touchdown by Brett Neller.

“Our offensive pretty much dominated their defensive line and our receivers put a hat on the DBs and I just had to run,” Martin said.

The Charger defense meanwhile held the Lakers’ offense in check. After early success running the ball, Mercyhurst struggled to move the ball in the second half.

“In the first half there was a few technical errors, a few mistakes, guys just not being in the right posts,” said senior linebacker Steve Balone. “We just fixed everything at halftime and it went really smooth.”

The win lifts the Chargers back up to .500 at 4–4 overall and in the GLIAC. Mercyhurst falls to 2–6. Next week Hillsdale travels to non–conference foe Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.

Official Release from Hillsdale:Oct. 21, 2006 - As Hillsdale College celebrated Parents' Weekend, there was nothing like a little home cooking to get the Charger football team back into the win column.

The Chargers rushed for a season-high 312 yards in a 40-21 victory over Mercyhurst College Saturday afternoon at Muddy Waters Stadium. Hillsdale is back to the .500 mark for the season with a 4-4 record. The Lakers fall to 2-6.

Over the past two seasons, the Chargers have enjoyed some of their biggest wins over Mercyhurst and the other GLIAC school from Erie, Gannon. Since the start of the 2005 season, Hillsdale has gone 4-0 vs. Gannon and Mercyhurst, outscoring the two teams 158-51. The Chargers' 40-21 win over the Lakers was the identical score from last year's contest, played in Erie.

The Hillsdale offensive line turned in its finest performance of the season, not allowing a sack while doing an outstanding job of blocking the Laker front seven. The Charger running backs averaged 6.4 yards per carry as a team, and had five players gain at least 36 yards on the ground.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Student-athletes traded jerseys and helmets for skirts and ties when they gathered Sunday with alumni, faculty and staff to honor the life of Hillsdale College’s legendary football coach, Frank “Muddy” Waters.

Some 500 people attended the memorial service in Jesse Philips Arena to pay respect to an extraordinary man—a man who knew half the attendees personally and whose legend inspires the other, younger half now practicing and competing on the field named after him.

“Muddy’s bones are buried in East Lansing, but his heart and soul will remain at Hillsdale,” said Bill Baldwin, ’63, who played guard and linebacker on the Charger football team during four of the 20 years Waters coached at Hillsdale.

During the memorial service, President Larry Arnn spoke of Waters’ enduring legacy at Hillsdale. His remarks were followed by those of George Guerre, a former Michigan State University running back who played alongside Waters, who was a “darn good fullback.”

Guerre shared college memories of Waters and spoke of his 60-year-old friendship with Waters. Guerre described Waters as a genuine gentleman, a man who “conforms to a high standard of correct behavior,” he said.

Friday, October 13, 2006

ST. MARYS — There are moments in life that cause us to step back and look at our past.

Delphos native Scott Schulte had one of those chances on Sept. 23 when he became the youngest member ever to enter the Hillsdale College Athletic Hall of Fame during an induction reception and dinner held at the Dow Center on the college’s campus.

Dr. Larry Arn, president of Hillsdale College, introduced the inductees, along with Tony Flynn, who was master of ceremonies.

“Scott is perhaps the finest running back to ever wear the Charger blue. He had the amazing ability to turn a play that looked like a disaster in the backfield into a game-changing breakaway to the end zone,” Flynn said. “Scott set records at Hillsdale that will be very tough for anyone to break. He has nearly twice as many rushing yards as anyone in school history, finishing his incredible career in 1993 with 4,495 yards on the ground. He holds three of the top five single-season rushing totals, with a high of 1,582 yards in 1992, the most by any Hillsdale running back in its history.”

Flynn also recounted Schulte’s other accolades: a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American in 1992 and 1993; Michigan Intercollegiate Football Conference Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993; and a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate in 1993.

He also holds the school record for rushing attempts in a season with 300 in 1993.

He signed as a free agent for the Miami Dolphins in 1993 before being a victim in one of the team’s final cuts. He also was cut from Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League before hanging up the cleats.

Enshrinement ceremonies were conducted at halftime of the Hillsdale and Ferris State game.

For Schulte, the whole event brought closure to his athletic career.

“It was a great honor to be inducted. To be on that turf again and hear the cheers one more time was a special moment,” Schulte began. “It brought back a lot of memories: to be able to go to a school that is as well-respected as Hillsdale, that has a long tradition in college football. I think at one time not too long ago, it was the winningest program in Division II because of men like Muddy Waters, who just passed away. There were expectations when I went there and to be a part of that tradition is fulfilling.”

The ceremony made the 1989 St. John’s graduate reflect on his playing days even in high school.

“When I was at St. John’s, we had had a couple of good years a few years before but we struggled my first two years. My junior year, we went 6-4 and to be part of the beginnings of what you see now is great; I take a lot of pride in that and what’s gone on since at the school,” he continued. “At Hillsdale, I stepped into a great tradition that was well-established and I hope I was part of keeping it going. I get a feeling of pride when I think about it.

“Sure, I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted — I would have liked to have played pro ball — but as I look back now, I see I did accomplish a lot; so much of it was off the field. The friendships, the people that I met along the way, made it all the more special. I feel very fortunate to have attended the places I did and to have known the people I did.”

As he enters his seventh year of coaching football at St. Marys Memorial, he hopes he can pass on his experiences to those he mentors.

“I try to apply what I’ve learned from the coaches I’ve played under to today’s players. I know what it’s like to work hard and get to a certain level; that never changes,” he added.

His brother, Todd, who followed him to Hillsdale and is currently the head football coach at St. John’s, felt he had a good teacher in his older brother.

“I was three years behind him and I tried to follow in his footsteps. He led by example on and off the field, whether in the weight room or agilities or sprints; whatever he had to do, he did it,” the younger Schulte began. “I saw first-hand what hard work can do. He taught me all his secrets at St. John’s and at Hillsdale and he had a pretty good career.

“It was special for all of us when he got inducted into the Hall. He set a lot of school records and he was very deserving of that honor.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Oct. 8, 2006 - TThe Hillsdale College football team delivered one of its best defensive performances of the season Saturday afternoon, and a player from that unit earned a conference honor as a result.

Junior safety Jared Kell (Wyandotte, Mich.) was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week Sunday evening. Kell was a leader of a superior defensive effort in Hillsdale’s 14-13 Homecoming win over the University of Indianapolis at Muddy Waters Stadium.

Kell intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles for the victorious Chargers. Three of those four turnovers came in the game’s final eight minutes. Kell intercepted an Indy pass at the Hillsdale 2-yard-line with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter. That interception led to the Chargers’ game-winning, 98-yard drive that pushed the team into the lead.

Kell later intercepted a pass with 52 seconds left that killed Indianapolis’ final drive of the ballgame. Kell scooped up a fumble in the second quarter, that also led to a touchdown drive by Hillsdale. Kell’s other fumble recovery came at the 8:11 mark of the fourth quarter. Kell added five solo tackles and six total tackles to his superb game. The Charger defense held the Greyhounds to 21 points below their conference-leading scoring average.

Kell currently leads Hillsdale with four interceptions on the season and four fumble recoveries. The Chargers are now 3-3 on the season and will play at Wayne State University Saturday at 12:10 p.m."

Friday, October 06, 2006

Hillsdale College students, past and present, will converge on campus in the next few days as the school celebrates its annual Home—coming weekend.

Highlighted by the Chargers’ foot—ball game against Indianapolis on Saturday, the weekend will see a number of events designed to welcome back former students and give current students a number of activities to enjoy as well.

“It’s a huge event for the whole campus, not just alums,” said Joyce Curby, Coordinator of Alumni events and programs. “The stu—dents are very involved in what’s going on and everybody’s working up to a fever pitch at this point.”

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with the Alumni Awards Banquet. The dinner will recognize the achievements of Hillsdale College graduates. Distinguished Alumni Awards will be handed out to Carolann Coppler Barker (1964 ), J. Wickliffe Ach (1970 ) and Dr. James Seward, who will also be the keynote speaker at the Alumni Academic Interest session at 10 a.m. Saturday in Lane Hall.

Professor Emeritus Thomas Carstens, Julie Talley (1980 ) and Susan McColl (1962 ) will receive the Tower Award for outstanding service to the college. Arthur Thomas will be given an honorary Alumni Award, Darrell Morton (1964 ) will be awarded the Teacher/Coach Awards and Aaron Streett (1999 ) and Scot Simpson (2001 ) will get the Gold Award for professional achievement within 10 years of graduation.

Friday night, a bonfire with a pep rally and fireworks will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Lower Fields.

A car show will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Sage Center/Howard Hall lots.

That same day will also be tailgating picnics before and after the Chargers play host to Indianapolis at 2:30.

After the game from 8 p.m. to 11:30, the Charger Tent Party will feature music from Otis Day and the Knights.

“We wanted to have a big exciting event and have alums come back to campus and see all the new buildings and enjoy being here,” Curby said. “And we thought that would be a great band to bridge all the generations. It’ll be a lot of fun.”